direct reduction

Direct reduction (DR) is a metallurgical process used to extract iron from ore at temperatures below the melting point of the materials involved. Unlike blast furnaces, DR processes leave the gangue (waste material) in the resulting spongy product, known as direct-reduced iron (DRI). This means only high-grade ores or pellets are suitable for DR iron making.1

DR is often employed when natural gas is inexpensive. Common methods involve rotating kilns or shaft furnaces where ore is treated with reducing gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The DRI produced is then further processed in steelmaking. While less than 5 percent of iron is made this way, it's a significant alternative to traditional blast furnace methods.12